Technique of Fixed-Bearing Lateral Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

Techniques in Knee Surgery, 12/26/2012Noticewala MS et al.

When unicompartmental knee arthroplasty was first introduced in the 1970s, the outcomes of medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (MUKA) were poor, but the few cases of lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (LUKA) showed promise. Since that time, refinements in patient selection criteria, implant design, and surgical technique have been made and MUKA has increased in popularity. However, LUKA remains rarely utilized. An awareness of the indications and contraindications of LUKA and a comprehensive preoperative assessment can accurately select for patients that wound benefit from LUKA.